How Meat Consumption Threatens the Environment

Livestock vs. Wildlife

From wolves to elk to prairie dogs, wild animals pay the price of meat production. Some are killed because they prey on cows; others die en masse to make room for agricultural operations; still more are put in harm’s way by pollution and greenhouse gas emissions that exacerbate climate change.

Climate Change

According to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization, meat production is responsible for at least 14.5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, which is more than all forms of transportation combined. Nearly 60 percent of the carbon footprint of the average U.S. household diet comes from animal products.

Habitat Loss, Water Use and Pollution

The 500 million tons of manure produced annually by U.S. livestock is just the beginning: Animal agriculture has taken over nearly half the landmass of the lower 48 states. And it has polluted 35,000 miles of rivers in 22 states and groundwater in 17 states.

Why we need to rewild our plates today

Production of beef, poultry, pork and other meats tripled between 1980 and 2010 and will likely double again by 2050. This ever-increasing meat consumption in a world of more than 7 billion people is already taking a staggering toll on wildlife, habitat, water resources, air quality and the climate. The only way to stop this environmental crisis is to address both unsustainable population growth and our voracious appetite for meat — and Americans eat more meat per capita than almost anyone else. By eating less or no meat, we can take extinction off our plates and improve our own health along with the health of the planet.